BREAST IMPLANT SIZING 101
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Annette.....Whoa....you go girl!
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Thank you Deborah so much! Approx 3 years ago (after my 3rd and final baby), I had silicone implants...which my OB believes saved my life - and pushed my tumor to the surface (God always has a plan, huh?)...they were Mentor SM Round Mod Plus Profile Saline 275 CC filled to 290 cc.....but I also had breast tissue at that point, well at least a little bit. I would say that I was a full B, maybe a C.
After the double mastectomy as you know, there is nothing there. The PS has indicated that he will need to lift the inner skin, filet it if you will, to allow the breast pocket to be sewn up a bit on the sides and give me some cleavage. Right now, it looks like I have two small grapefruits under my skin....lovely. I am already experiencing some rippling with the expander, my skin is in good condition, but there isn't any tissue to cushion it between!
My chest measurement underneath current expanders is approx 32 1/2." I just want to look as close as possible to my previous body...I am not expecting perfection, but pretty darn close.
Thank you, thank you for your ministry to people like me who are at a loss for what to do!
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Annette - you rock! You have reminded me that this is my body, my life and my insurance money.
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faithorfearmom - TE's look strange on almost everyone! I felt like I had oranges on my chest. When I first heard them described as 'tortoise shells' I laughed out loud! So true. Don't be discouraged with how the TE's look compared to the implants. You're in good hands with whippetmom! I too had rippling with the TE's and struggled with the decision for saline or silicone. So many choices! After reading some of the discussions on here, talking with my PS and lots of prayer I decided on silicone. Prayers for you that you'll have wisdom! xo0
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faithorfearmom: You are indeed in great hands with Whippetmom! Without her and the wonderful help of all of the women on these boards I never would have had the strength or the knowledge to fire my first BS and get three opinions. I ended up with one of the finest pair of surgeons available and they just did beautiful work. They listened to what I wanted and it wasn't a fight to get there. Best of luck in getting to where you want to go!
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Thanks faithorfear- I had a lot of help on here getting that way...Whippetmom is like the best boob coach on the planet...hatching all of us out to fly!
Whippetmom- when I get started....hahahahahQ! lookout:)
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Saw the PS today & I think we're communicating better. Thanks to annettek & LmFlynn for your PM encouragement. Currently have 650 expanders going for Allergan 410 teadrop implants in September.
Whippetmom - you are amazing. One of your predictions of 410LX - 515 grams was right on since I convinced him to go a little smaller on the width. Currently overfilling to 550 but only 50cc at a time.
I learn something new every time everytime I read any thread on the BCO site and collect more questions for my PS. Thanks to all of your for sharing your journeys and allowing me to join in.
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minustwo: is that a typo? 650 expanders won't be overfilled at 550.
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Nope - not a typo but maybe not clear. We didn't agree about sizes before he put in the 650expanders at BMX, but I think he finally believes I want "willowy & athletic", maybe even boyish. He'll fill to 550 and then back off to size 515 implants. He says he'll stitch up the pockets if they are too big.
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Whippetmom,
I'm a bit discouraged tonight because I though I would be closer to being filled than I guess the PS thinks I am. I am at 575cc now (650 mentor) and am happy with the size. He thinks I need another 150cc's but only wants to add 50cc at a time. 50cc's does not even bother me at all. Is there any reason why I can't have more at 1 time? And do I really need to be overfilled 150cc's? I just want to be a C cup when it's all over. I'm 5'4", weigh 135 and am 32" around ribcage under breasts and 36" above breasts and under armpits. I don't want to be second guessing him but after all this was started the company decided to relocate me and I'd like to have the exchange before I move instead of having to come back for the exchange. At this size is it going to cause problems with the incisions to have 75cc's added at a time? And how much overfill does a person really need?
Thanks, Jo
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JuJuBe, you sound just like me! I have the same thing, and i am scheduled for a BMX on May 26th. Trying to stay calm and make sense of all the options. Hoping to learn what to ask my PS as I browse through these forums- so glad I found them! You are all very encouraging to those of us waiting our turn....
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Dear Whippetmom, I just saw my PS to discuss exchange. He's Recommending 410 "Gummies" bc after bilat Mx the silicone could ripple more since skin is thin.
I am 5'2", 114, small frame, wear size 2 clothing, 28" ribcage. Expanders are Allergan 133FV-13. They are filled to 510.
He said he would take into surgery: 410 FX 495, and FF 475, and MF 470. What do you think about this size with the pockets already made with current expander? Thanks so much for your advice!0 -
All of you gals who are waiting for answers - HANG TIGHT! I have been working on this mammoth design project which I need to finish by tomorrow! I will have some time tomorrow to work from my iPhone to answer questions....
Thank you for your patience. For implant questions, remember, I need to know the style and recommended volume of your TEs - height, weight, ribcage circumference. 0 -
faithorfearmom: If your ribcage is indeed 32" a midrange style @ 400 ccs might be more appropriate. It depends on the style of your TEs.
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Brca1953: I think 75 ccs - which places you at 650 ccs should be quite sufficient to exchange you out to implants with a volume of 550 ccs. You need to inform your PS of the time constraints. If you are handling 50 ccs fill, you should be fine with 75 ccs. Make your desires known and verbalize th to your PS. Make sure you are both on the same page re: implant size. Ask him his plans for size and see if they mesh with yours.
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Howard: Look at the top of the screen next to Favorite Topics and click on Private Messages. I sent you one last night.
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Whippetmom ~ This is totally backwards but value your opinion and looking for piece on mind. I had 350 expanders filled to 360 on the left (Feb 2011 mast) and 390 on th rt as it was a 6 yr old mast and the exp slid a bit under the arm - muscle just didn't want to stretch normally. I'm 5'7" 133 lbs and have a 30" ribcage and wanted to be a full A to a small B. I received 300cc Mentor Siltex Round High Profile Gel Cohesive I (textured) on both sides. Can you please provide your opinion and also do these type expander drop and fluff? I'm pretty new to this so not sure I'm explaining everything properly. Thanks much.
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ditan3: I suppose the better question is, are you happy with the size of your implants? Based on what you were hoping to achieve, I am not sure that 300 ccs in a HP style is what I would have recommended - nor would I have recommended textured implants. Since you wanted to be small, I would have preferred moderate plus profile style implants, so that you could have the width you need on your frame. But without seeing your photos, I really cannot comment whether they are appropriate for you. You can email me photos if you like. Just PM me if you want my email address!
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Cindy: Always glad to help! I will be excited to see the end result!
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I saw my PS for my last fill on friday ( I am now slightly larger than what I would like post exchange). My TEs look great, symetrical and nice and high. My PS will see my again in 3-4 weeks, he suggests at this time he will take photos, and many measurements and choose an implant according to current sure of TEs and his calcualtions. He did many measurements and markings prior to mastectomy as well. Is this usually how an implant size is calculated? He did tell me he would recommend silicone over saline, but my choice, and high profile to better fill out a bra. Also explained he typically brings several sizes to surgery to be sure and will even sit me up during procedure to make sure things looked good in up right position. He seems very thorough and detail oriented. Anything else I should be looking for??
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Thank you whippetmom! I have decided to obtain a second opinion from a PS on the issue of saline shaped or silicone round. My TE is Style 133V TE matrix by Allergan. I have no idea what that information might mean. Do you have anything that might be helpful for me to know? Again, thank you so much!
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Glad I found this post, great information and answers some of my questions. Currenly have 400 cc's TE's overfilling to 600cc's, I asked if I was going to pop, they promised me that I will not? Currently have 410, they are using 90cc's each fill up, killing me but I want to get this over with!! Have a deadline to get this done! Haven't really talked about implants yet, Saline or Silicone. What about that Silicone leak they reported some years back, whats to say this will not happen again? Just concerned. I started reconstruction same time I had my BMX which was April 1st, hope to have my implants next month, so I'm confused that others have to wait so long?? These are killing me and I can't wait to get them out!!! I'm 5' 8" 180 lbs ribcage: 33", just thought I would throw in that I got my diagnosis for my 50th birthday present. That is why it was so fitting to have them taken out on April Fools day. OK my concern, they tell me I am going to be rounded, or did I hear flat?! I don't know if I going to be happy with that? Not sure what size I will be, possibly a "C"? Love you girls, don't even know you, but were all bosom buddies!!
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Okeefe7544
I am right there with you girl! I am about 500 cc's into my ever so annoying TE's. In the home stretch so to speak haha! To answer your question about silicone. It's different then it used to be. It's a gel. You could cut it and it is like jello. Doesn't bleed anymore
silicone away! 0 -
I am out of town and back tomorrow. My iPhone is acting up, making it difficult for me to read these requests! I will answer them all tomorrow,,,
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okeefe: Cindy is voicing what most of us have experienced in terms of time between the last fill and the exchange. It is not necessarily a good thing to move so quickly. Especially when you need the retention of the expansion. Quicker is not always better. Unless, that is, you had large breasts pre-BMX and you have sufficient skin flaps to fill the implants you will require to satisfy your desires to have the appearance of a "C" cup. I think you need at least 600 ccs - midrange profile or high profile implant. Most of us on the reconstruction forums have silicone implants. There is a search thread in the upper right hand corner of this webpage and you can search for threads where there have been discussions of saline vs. silicone.0
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faithorfearmom: You have the 133V Allergan TEs, but what you need to obtain is the style and volume. So it might be 133V-13 or 133V-12, or it might be written as 133V-MX500 - something like that. Your PS will have it recorded in your chart or you might have been given a little card with this info after the surgery.
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christine47: Everything your PS is doing - measurements - silicone - high profile - taking in several sizes - it all sounds good to me. If you want to confirm sizing issues, I would need your implant style and volume, your height, weight, ribcage circumference, yadda, yadda, yadda!
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Hillck, Great news, I know that you are excited!! I can't wait for the day
!!! Please let us know how you feel after and how long for recovery. I'll be praying for you!!Whippetmom, Thank you so much for the information, something to think about!!
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Well third fill went very well, no pain at all. Got another 100cc on my way to 750cc. I posted pics on the forum on my existing thread called Delayed Reconstruction.
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You are looking good Carrol! Very nice progress!!
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